Press Release - NBA strengthens it UK Board

NBA Strengthens its UK Board

National Beef Association members are to have strengthened representation,  as five new members are co-opted onto the Board of Trustees.

The co-options come as a result of nominations from existing members in order to bring broader expertise and knowledge from different sectors of the beef industry and the UK.

At the Board meeting held yesterday it was very clear that this increasingly youthful Board with it’s new ideas and fresh approach will consolidate the NBA's  place as the leading voice for the beef industry .

The first new appointment brings an important academic ability to the Board in the shape of Simon Marsh, a senior lecturer at Harper Adams University College.  Simon has a vast amount of experience in agricultural research and specialises in intensive beef production systems, beef cattle nutrition, calf rearing, beef cattle breeding and suckled calf production.

William Haire, from Northern Ireland is a Nuffield Scholar who chose the study topic ‘scientific selection in the beef herd’ covering the use of EBV's, Genomics, etc and how to use them.  William comes with a wealth of knowledge and experience as a beef cattle breeder with a pedigree herd of Herefords, sub group Chairman at the NI Red Meat Strategic Forum (a sustainable livestock systems and supply chaingroup) who farms near Crumlin, Northern Ireland.

James Evans, the youngest appointment is also the 2012 Beef Farmer of the Year.  James manages the family beef and sheep unit in Shropshire and was selected both for the award and to join NBA due to his innovative ideas and to represent young producers in the industry.  As a member of the NFU Next Generation Policy Forum and, as part of the EBLEX Progressive Beef Group, he brings new thinking and energy to the industry and the NBA.

John Vanstone is a well- known and respected figure in NBA having served as South West Chairman for over two years leading the region through another successful Beef South West event this year alongside the harsh difficulties of the region’s TB problems.  John brings a highly valued perception of the beef industry as a suckler producer–finisher who manages 300 acres organically in Cornwall. John and his wife farm cross-bred sucklers AI’ed to a British Blue, and runs a herd of Stabilisers, alongside a flock of 190 Lleyn sheep.

David Thomlinson, a Director and senior auctioneer at Harrison and Hetherington at Borderway Mart in Carlisle and a beef farmer is another distinguished and respected individual in the agricultural field, across the North of England and across the UK.  David  was awarded the prestigious 2011 Blamire Award and has helped shape NBA over a number of years and is currently tasked with taking the Northern region forward as well as driving the NBA Pedigree Committee. 

NBA Chairman Hamish McBean commented  “I am delighted these respected people from industry have stepped up to become Trustees of the NBA.  They bring youth, experience and knowledge covering a wide range of sectors within the beef industry to contribute to a progressive Board which will take the association to the levels that are expected by our members and partners, to head the only dedicated voice representing the beef industry.”

New Board members join John Hoskin from the South West, Stephen Heenan from Northern Ireland, Nick Davis from Wales and Chairman Hamish McBean from Scotland.

For more information contact:

Hamish McBean, Chairman NBA

Tel:      01309 651206

            07729 357880